Retaining device



Oct. 19, 1943. v. W ICKMAN V RETAINING DEVICE File d Aug. 20, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l frayenaar Via/e7 Wick/22cm, 9f

Oct. 19, 1943. -v. WICKMAN 2,332,035

RETAINING DEVICE Filed Aug. 20, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 19, I943 UNITED STATES EPATENT OFFICE RETAINING DEVICE Violet Wickman, Omaha, Nebr.

' Application August 20, 1941, Serial No. 407,586

2 Claims.

This invention relates generally to new and useful improvements in retaining devices and has particular reference to a novel safety device for retaining an infant or young child against accidental fall from a bed or crib.

One of the objects of .my invention resides in the provision of a safety retaining device which shall be sanitary, simple in construction, comparatively low in cost of manufacture, and ef fective to retain the infant or child against accidental fall from a bed or crib in the event the infant rolled on the bed or in the event the child stood up and leaned over the side of the crib. The construction of the parts and their arrangement and interconnection is such that the device will not interfere with the freedom of the body movements in rolling over from one side to the other, or in completely reversing the position of the body as when the child rolls over from repose on its back to a position of repose upon its abdomen.

With the above and other objects in view, which will become readily apparent from the perusal of the attached drawings and specification wherein I show a simple and preferred em bodiment of my invention, my invention consists in the novel combination, construction and arrangement of the several members shown in preferred embodiments in the attached drawings, described in the following specification, and particularly defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective showing a crib, with parts broken away, and a retaining device embodying my invention applied to opposite sides of the crib;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the flexible securing member;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the belt member;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the belt member;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-section of the belt member taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 shows a plan view of the interconnecting member for loosely connecting the belt with the flexible securing or retaining member;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-section of the interconnecting member taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a side View of the retaining device showing same secured to a bed;

Figs. 9, 10, and 11 show respectively a plan view, side view, and modified partial plan View of a modification of my invention; and

Fig. 12 shows an end portion of the belt adapted for use with the construction illustrated in Fig. 9.

My improved retaining device comprises three main parts or members, namely, a securing member II], a waist band or belt l3, and an interconnecting member [4.

The securing member H! is preferably made of a strip of flexible rubberized fabric of ribbonlike or tape form. I prefer to use a washable or rubberized fabric for sanitary reasons; however, such securing member It! may be made of any suitable ribbon or tape or flexible rope which can be tied, as for example, to a pair of opposed side rails ll of a crib l2, as shown in Fig. l. A securing member [0 of flexible flat ribbon or tape fabric has the advantage of securance to a bed mattress i5, as shown in Fig. 8, by any suitable securing means such as safety pins iii.

The waist band or belt member i3 is also preferably made of rubberized fiat ribbon-like fabric so that it may be readily Washed. The belt member I3 may be adjustably secured about the chest portion of the childs body just below the armpits and the ends I? and is of the belt mem ber l3 may be overlapped and secured together in any suitable manner as by buttons, snap fasteners or lacing; however, I have preferred to show the end belt portion I 8 as provided with a transverse slit Ill and the end belt portion ii of slightly narrower width so that same'may be passed through the slit l9 into overlapping relation with the end belt portion i8. As shown in the drawings, the overlapping belt end portions I7 and iii are secured together by safety pins l6.

Before the belt member i3 is applied and adjusted to the childs body the belt member I3 is first passed through the interconnecting member or ring l4 whereupon the belt [3 may then be secured about the childs body.

Having secured the belt member l3 to the childs'body, the securing member it may then be passed through the metallic ring member is and the ends thereof tied :to the crib rails H or the ends of the securing member Ii] may be pinned to a bed or crib mattress with the safety pins I6, as illustrated in Fig. 8.

For purposes of simplicity of structure I prefer to make the interconnecting metallic member Hi of circular shape and, to eliminate sharp or cutting edges, I prefer to make such interconnecting ring of round cross-section as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7.

I prefer to use a chromium plated metal ring I4 but such interconnecting ring I4 may be made It will readily be apparent from the illustration.

in Fig. 1 that the child is not unduly restricted in turning from side to side or from repose on its back to repose upon its abdomen since the.

belt member [3 is free to slide through thering M. Due to the free sliding support of the ring M on the retaining member ID, the childs body may, to a limited extent, be shifted bodily longitudinally of the securing member "I0.

As above stated, I prefer to pass one end portion of the belt,i3 through a slit 1"9 in'the-other end portion of the belt so that the terminal edges of both ends of such belt are disposedon the outer face of the belt. This particularioverlapping eliminates any possibility oi'one end of the belt interfering with the free sliding movement of suchbelt thrcugh-the'rin'g '14.

Fig. '8 also shows another application or use of my device wherein the securing strip member -10 is positioned transversely of and over the top of the bed I5 and secured to the bottom face'of the mattress by pins IS. The securing member is shown in such position by dot and dash. lines and the cooperating ring member 14 is shown by broken lines.

Obviously, the ends. of the securing member l0 could besecurely fastened or tied to the lower side rails of the crib or to the side rails of a bed or bed springs.

Both belt 53 and securing member [0 pass through the ring member [4. It, ma be. noted that in "this particular adaptation or use, the ring member [4 is-preferably made of a comparatively smaller diameter than for the use shown in Fig. l and is made of round or oval shape and from metal of comparatively verysma-ll cross-section to obviate any discomfort to'the childand this adaptation will not'interfere withtlie us'e'of any covers which maybe applied over the child.

The modification of my invention illustrated in Figs. 9, 10, 11, and 12 consists of a securing member or strip 20 which is adapted to be-laid flat across a bed and securely fastened with safety pins IE to the side rails 2+, or same may be pinned to a mattress l as shown by broken lines 'in'Fig. l0.

The body securing belt member or strip 22 is then placed over the' chest of the child and secured by pins Hi to strip 20. Since' bot'hstrips and 22 have aplurality of pairsofspacedeyelets 23, these strips can be adjustabiy secured together to provide for free movement'of the childs body between such strips.

After the strip 22..is secured to strip 2J-at both sides of the childsbody, the ends of strip 22 may then ,bepassed around the vertical slats 24 and pinned to ,the'edge. of the cover 25 to retain same 'over'the childs chest... Or, as shown in Fig. 11, the free ends of the securing strip 22 may simply be pinned to the bed and not passed around the slats 24.

It is obvious that instead of pinning the belt member or strip 22 to the strip 20 at the sides of the childs body as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, a pair of oval rings could be substituted instead of the pins 16 whereby the belt member 22 would be slidable, through such oval rings, relatively to the securing member 20.

Fig. 12 shows a typical end portion of the strips 29 and 22 with spaced pairs of eyelets 23; similar eyelets would of course be provided in the intermediate portions of these strips for adjustable securement of same at the sides of the childs body.

This device should be inexpensive and would not only secure the child but would provide means for. retaining the cover over the child.

The spaced pairs of eyelets 23 are preferably the well known thin brasseyelets which are applied mechanically as in their well known use as rivets for securing together severalsheets oi paper.

Various obvious changes may readily occur to those skilledv in the art to which, this invention relates-upon perusal of the above specifications and attached drawings, hence, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact'details of construction of the various parts and members illustrated "in the drawings which show my invention inllpreferred embodiments. The inventioniis defined-in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A retaining device of" the character clescribedicomprisingia flexible retaining strip member having 'ends adaptedto be secured to spaced portions of a bed, 'a belt member, adapted to pass over the trunk portion of a childs body, having portions adapted to be secured to-the head end portion of the bed above the childs head and the ends thereof adapted to be secured-to a marginal portion of a cover for the child, and releasable means for adjustably connecting said belt-memher with said retaining strip member at spaced points of said belt member comprising spaced pairs of eyelets insaid belt member anda pair or fastenersadapted tofibe passedthrough a pair of selected eye'lets and secured tosaid retaining strip member.

2. A retaining device of the character described comprising a flexible retaining strip member have ingzends adapted tobesecuredtospaciad portions :of aybed,ia belt memberhaving aportion which, when the. deyiceais. in..use,.is vertically aligned with said retaining strip member, adapted to extend over the trunk portion of a childs body, having portions adapted to be secured to the head-end portion of the bed and the ends thereof adapted to be extended toward-the opposite end of the bedand securedto .a marginal portion of acover for the child, and releasable means for adjustably connecting said beitmeinberwith said retai r 1in'g strip member at spaced points=of said belt member to permit the childs body to make a cdm'plete rotation in the space between the vertically spaced portions of said members.

LET ICK N 

